Wed Jan 22, 2014 09:59:27
Lebanon’s ex-premier Saad Hariri says his political bloc is prepared to form a government with Hezbollah to resolve Lebanon's months-long political deadlock, although they back opposite sides in the Syrian conflict.
Hariri, the head the so-called March 14 coalition, also threatened that Hezbollah ministers in any future government he heads must not have veto powers.
For nine months, since the resignation of prime minister Najib Mikati, Lebanon has been in political paralysis, with March 14 and Hezbollah and its allies unable to agree on a new government.
"We have been targeted with assassinations for nine years, and we have waited and waited. But will we wait for the country to burn down?" Hariri said in an interview with his Future TV broadcast.
"I have made this decision (to accept forming a government with Hezbollah) for the sake of Lebanon's interests, rather than my own," Hariri claimed.
NTJ/BA
string(1237) "[{"id":"1533575","sort":"3154737","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/11/12/alalam_635198390833837005_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"What King Abdullah told Lebanon president, Hariri at Riyadh palace"} ,{"id":"1555576","sort":"3154738","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/01/16/alalam_635254665074866825_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Lebanon arrests senior Abdullah Azzam commander"} ,{"id":"1555586","sort":"3154739","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/01/16/alalam_635254670540953379_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"4 killed, 25 hurt in eastern Lebanon bombing: medic"} ,{"id":"1555674","sort":"3154740","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/01/16/alalam_635254791078676510_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Rafiq Hariri killing trial opens in The Hague"} ,{"id":"1556294","sort":"3154741","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/01/18/alalam_635256426672957188_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Hariri ‘optimistic’ on coalition cabinet with Hezbollah"} ,{"id":"1557252","sort":"3154742","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/01/20/alalam_635258523257729531_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Sniper fire kills five in Lebanon's Tripoli"} ,{"id":"1557625","sort":"3154743","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/01/21/alalam_635259372148564575_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Jumblatt: Takfiris run bombing campaign in Lebanon"} ]"